The Institute of Travel and Tourism announced more details of new online degree course it has created with Leeds Metropolitan University.
The organisation’s chairman and chief executive Steven Freudmann announced the move at the end of this week’s annual overseas conference in Abu Dhabi.
“Possibly for the first time travel professionals will have the opportunity to study for a travel degree at the same time as they are working,” he said.
Freudmann said the move to offer online qualifications came after the government indicated e-learning would be essential to cope with the demand for courses, often from overseas students.
The ITT/Leeds Met degrees have received backing from the Indonesia tourism ministry, Freudmann told the conference.
The BSc and MSc courses are due to start in January 2014 and be delivered by various means of online technology.
Freudmann said he hoped other universities would continue working with the ITT to develop professional development in the travel industry.
Meanwhile, it was announced that easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall will become the first female recipient of ITT’s prestigious Odyssey Award.